I Screwed the Novel's Plot

"Say, Cedric, should I chain my son inside his Palace instead?"

"Pardon?"

Cedric was baffled. He couldn't comprehend what the Emperor was talking about.

Dariush heaved a long deep sigh.

"Never mind."

"I–I understand."

"Did Theresa know about her son's kidnapping?"

"Her Majesty did not."

There was a brief pause.

"Keep it quiet for the time being."

"I understand."

–Tuk –Tuk –Tuk

The white-haired man tapped the window frame.

"When is the Yovanny Princess coming?"

"Estimated around 4 to 5 days."

"Tsk."

Dariush clucked his tongue in annoyance. As expected, Damian always ran into trouble at the most inopportune times.

"How can I enjoy the banquet when my child is kidnapped?"

He spoke sarcastically and his aide remained silent. He let out a sharp breath and ordered.

"Dispatch the search team along with the Investigation Team. Also notify the Investigation Team to find Prince Damian before the Yovanny Princess' arrival, otherwise–"

Dariush turned around and faced his aide.

"–I will demote them."

"I understand."

The man before him bowed and exited the room.

"Haa…"

Dariush sighed and clutched his head. His son surely loved giving his father headaches. He shook his head and returned to his desk to continue the work he left off.

.

.

.

–Splash!

"Cough, cough!"

I coughed when the water got into my nose.

"See! I told you! He's from the Imperial Family!"

"Ho. Looks like you caught a big fish!"

Many voices pierced my ears and I slowly lifted my eyelids.

–Splash!

They threw me another bucket of water.

"Cough, cough!"

I saw people wearing black robes with my blurry sight and having my hair yanked backward by someone.

"Wake up! Dipshit!"

My eardrum rang because of his scream.

A man clucked his tongue and spoke sarcastically.

"Just put him in the cage already. I lost a man thanks to him."

And he exited the room followed by echoing footsteps.

"Get up!"

Since I couldn't understand what was going on, I just did as he said and I was dragged.

There was a sound of metal crunching and he pushed me.

"Urg!"

I wailed when my head hit the hard floor and my body slumped to the ground. I tried to get up but my torso had lost its strength and my vision darkened.

.

.

.

I blinked my eyes a few times and clutched my head once a surge of headache swirled inside.

"You're… awake…?"

A weak mixed with relief tone pricked my ears. I removed my hand from my forehead and I saw a pair of purple jewels.

I immediately rose and sat after realizing that I was sleeping on her thighs. I had no idea–whatsoever, how I ended up there.

"Thank you?"

"You're welcome."

I glanced at her and she brought her knees toward her chest. She hugged them and let her face sink between them.

His eyelids swelled up so much; it seemed she cried a lot when I was unconscious. Of course, it was out of fear, not because she thought I was dead.

Shifting my attention, I began to scan the surroundings. I was inside an iron cage along with Leticia and we were in some kind of cave or underground-like environment.

The room was filled with orange hues as torches were the only source of light and I couldn't tell whether this was day or night.

And I could see two black-robed men guarding this room. They were sitting while playing cards.

However, I was stunned when I saw another cage beside me. Differing from me, the cage next to me was full of children my age; approximately 20 to 30 children per cage, and there were 5 cages inside, excluding my cage.

A few kids blatantly looked at me but immediately averted my eyes when I glared back at them.

Judging from their appearance, I could tell that they were commoners, and some were from slums. It seemed the kidnappers classified our origin.

Also, I couldn't sense any mana here; it looked like they installed a Mana Disruption Device. I gazed at my wrist and my Telesphere was gone.

I tried to rummage through my pocket but found nothing. Well, doubtlessly, they took all of my valuable items. Even the brooch given by Chislon was also taken off.

Now that the tracking devices were removed from me, waiting to be rescued was not an option. I had to get out of here by myself.

But… how?

I couldn't use my Mana, I didn't have a weapon or ticket to run away unlike when I was being chased by assassins.

Now that I talked about it, I remembered Trickster said something about the kidnapping. Who would know if the words he spewed were the truth?

"Sniff, sniff."

I turned to the sound and tears ran down her face.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm okay!"

She answered curtly and gave her back to me. How old was she again? Ah, five. Well, in my opinion, she was mature enough.

What I meant was, she didn't throw a tantrum or something like that.

I peeked once again and her body shook as she cried in silence. I had no idea how to ease her grief, if she was my mother I would hug her.

But she wasn't my mother and I thought hugging her was something that I shouldn't do to a stranger.

I had no experience dealing with women or having a girlfriend before. So, I didn't know what to do with her.

"Sniff, sniff."

"Tsk."

I clucked my tongue in annoyance as it got on my nerves and let out a sharp breath. Well, I was neither a gentleman nor a jerk, but I couldn't let her cry all alone, could I?

"Here."

I offered my hand to her and yet, she just stared at it. There was a brief pause, but she eventually held my hand.

I didn't know if this could make her any better, but I just want to remind her that… she was not alone.

"Haa…"

A yawning sound filled the room and I peered into the voice. One of the black-robed men was seen stretching his body.

Another rose from his seat and hit his back several times.

"Damn! This is killing my back. Let's go, our shift is over."

"Yeah."

He got up and they walked toward the door. At that moment, I started to count.

'One… two… three–'

Soon, footsteps echoed and two new black-robed men entered the room.

'–201…'

They swept the area and walked to the center. One of them placed a bottle on the table and sat on the chair, while the other one came closer to our cage.

He gazed at us and sneered.

"Heh, how cute."

I had no idea what the hell he was talking about, but whatever, it was not like I had a reason to care anyway. Afterward, he joined his partner and began playing cards.

"Your Highness…"

I spun sideways and our eyes met. Well, it seemed she had felt better since I couldn't find any trace of tears on her face.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She said nothing and I continued racking my brain to escape from his damned place.

A few hours passed and a man came in with an unconscious kid on his shoulder, then dumped him inside a cage.

"This is the last one."

"Huh? Why?"

One of the guards sounded surprised.

"Haa… you should see the situation outside. It's pure chaos."

Another jumped into the conversation.

"Is it because we kidnapped someone from the Imperial Family?"

The man who brought a kid pointed at me.

"He's not from the Imperial Family but a fucking Prince! The Second Prince!"

And all eyes darted at me, be it the guards or children in the cages. Several kids murmured and gazed at me interestingly.

"A… Prince?"

"He's a Prince?"

"SHUT UP!!"

The man grabbed a bottle and threw it toward the iron cage. The bottle shattered into pieces.

"Kyaa!!"

Of course, that action made them scream in fear, and Leticia clenched my hand tightly. She was scared.

"What are you doing? That's our liquor."

"Uh, sorry."

"Tsk. Good grief."

And the guards' shoulders drooped as they were disheartened by their comrade's action.

"Don't worry. I'll bring a new one."

With that, the man left but even after many hours passed, he never came back.

I glanced to the side when something fell on my shoulder. Leticia was sleeping while leaning on me and soft snoring could be heard.

I tried to withdraw my hand but to no avail and I gave up.

Hour by hour passed and I patiently waited. Finally, a guard rose from his seat.

"Let's go, our shift is over."

"Already?"

"Yeah, also, let's look for that bastard! How dare he tricked us!"

Another slammed the table and got up.

"Damn it! I almost forgot about it! Now that you mention it! Let's give him a lesson!"

"Let's go!"

They strode toward the door and I began to count once again.

'One… two… three–'

My counting came to a stop when the next guards entered.

'–198…'